José Ignacio Salafranca has a Bachelor degree in law, PHD law courses at the Complutense University of Madrid and Diplomate in European integration by the Diplomatic School of Madrid and the National Institute of Public Administration.[1] He also is Honorary Doctorate by Las Américas University of Chile[2]

On the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra served as the European Parliament's rapporteur on the bi-regional strategic association between the EU and Latin America and the association, political dialogue and cooperation agreements between the European Community and Mexico, Chile and the Andean Community.[5]

In addition to his committee assignments, Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra was a member of the European People's Party Group Bureau. Between 2001 and 2004, he also served as Vice-Chairman of the Group.[6]

Former Chairman of the Delegation for relations with the countries of South America and the Delegation for relations with the countries of Central America, Mexico and Cuba

2001: European Parliament representative at the Second Summit of Heads of State and Government of the EU, Latin America and the Caribbean (Madrid, 2002) and at the Third Summit of Heads of State and Government of the EU, Latin America and the Caribbean (Guadalajara, Mexico, 2004), and head of the parliamentary delegation to the 12th, 13th and 14th San Jose Ministerial Conferences with the Rio Group (2000, 2001) and the Euro-Mediterranean partnership

In 2006, Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra was the chief of a committee of 70 electoral observers from the European Union for the Mexican general election.[12] After the election Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra considered the controversial election clean and considered the decision of the Electoral Tribunal as fair.[13]Mark Almond, an election observer questioned the objectivity of José Ignacio Salafranca and some of the mass media.[14]

In May 2015, news media reported that Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra was included in a Russian blacklist of prominent people from the European Union who are not allowed to enter the country.[15]